Postal Match responses

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Tom Acheson posted this 05 January 2025

Ther are (3) recent posts regarding the postal match shooting opportunities, by our new Director, Michael Hice.

So far, no responses, unless my I-pad is playing with me.

Is it a lack of interest or other things going on?  Or maybe just me? I've shot in the Postal program for over 35-years. I joined in 1986 and shot the handgun silhouette postals, until they were discontinued. Right after that I shot my first CBA BR match. Despite an interest in the BR matches, I kept messing with the Postals, you can do both!

Postals give you the opportunity to try out a new gun or load, where you need to concentrate a bit more than just another trip to the range.

Some here may remember the informal Forum Postals run by Jim Scearcy and Ken Campbell. Those were fun!

Tom

 

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RicinYakima posted this 05 January 2025

lot of us old folks are trying the heal up from kids, grand kids and great grand kids here for the holidays. 

Having to take morning and afternoon naps, and haven't started putting Christmas away yet. 

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Tom Acheson posted this 05 January 2025

Ric, I get that, very busy time of the year. Our kids, grandkids and now a great grandkid consume lots of time and energy this time of the year. Now is not the time to be shooting,

My intent was to try to generate some interest in maybe someone who hadn’t considered trying one or two Postal offerings, by looking deeper into the large collection of events and high variety of the potential use of guns. This for later in 2025.

Just wanted to fire-up a headstart for this spring,

Tom

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Boschloper posted this 06 January 2025

I will play the kids / grandkids card as well. 

I will be signing up in time for the season military benchrest.

If anyone hasn’t tried it yet I highly recommend it. Very humbling. 

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shootcast posted this 06 January 2025

It’s nice to see something new . Postal’s have never been popular partially  because it’s and honor system. Also by the time you pay the fee and return postage it cost as much or more than and actual match. If we had a cell phone app that took a actual size photo and then emailed the pictures back for scoring it would greatly cut cost and time. Again because postal’s are a honor system this would be sufficient. Prize money isn’t necessary.

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longhunter posted this 06 January 2025

Tom,

I'm always fired up about postal matches.

I shoot all summer shooting postal matches.  I have 4 different rifles I shoot in them and I wish others would have as much fun as I do!  

I want to thank our new Postal match director for his great work in getting targets out as fast as he has.

Thank you

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

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RicinYakima posted this 06 January 2025

Tom,

I know, as that is how I started in the CBA in 1994. I was always fun, but now I have to shoot them by myself as no one left to shoot with me now. 

Ric

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Tom Acheson posted this 06 January 2025

Shooting alone....a couple years ago I started one of our matches with everyone doing the 200-yard combined. I bought the targets and everyone paid me back at the match. I sent the targets in for scoring. But I unofficially scored them first, so the shooters knew how they did, without waiting for several months. I included the 200-combined results along with the regular match results that were sent to everyone.

At least two other forums have postal programs. One does what was suggested here, take a photo of the fired target and send it in for scoring....no return postage. Another has the shooter do the scoring and send in the results. For both there was no financial reward so any "incentive" for violating the honor aspect, is minimized. 

The CBA BR matches require the use of backers for groups, which negates the honor system. The CBA Postal prgram has the same person doing the scoring, which introduces a degree of consistentcy. But no one ever knows for sure if the load, gun, shooting distance, etc. are ethically adhered to. The honest ones around say this is a hobby for fun, and if I cheat, what does it tell me? Two things...I cheated my friends and I didn't shoot as good I tell others that I did. 

For me, I just like the opportunity to get out and shoot. The prospect of a financial reward is not important. My only challenge is signing up for too many events and then getting too optimistic on timing and getting everything sent in by the due date.

Tom

 

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longhunter posted this 06 January 2025

I have the same problem.  Signing up for to many.  It works out pretty well most years.  I guess this getting old does mean doing things alone.

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

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4060may posted this 06 January 2025

I signed up for 4 matches

sent the match #22 targets in, June and July, the Parkison's is becoming more, and I didn't have it in me to finish the year, made it to 82 in Sept., Sent the targets in June 24, 2024, got them back Jan 2 2025, ripped envelope etc...getting ready to send them in again

I don't think I can take the recoil of the BPCR rifle any longer, probably won't shoot this match again

pictures and sending them in seems like a better idea, shipping is expensive and going to get worse

Chuck

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Tom Acheson posted this 06 January 2025

4060,

I score the TFH Postal. One shooter sent his targets to me but they didn't arrive. I contacted him and he said he sent them, but....didn't get a tracking number. So he e-mailed me a photo he took before sending them in. This is a scoring event, not groups, so it wasn't too difficult to score the targets. Then for the next month he sent them with a tracking number and they showed up in time. I always take photos of my fired targets, not for the purposes noted here but for my own reference at a later date. This helps if you are getting ready for the next month's targets and want to see if you should think about modifying your sight settings.

Oddly, the missing targets showed up two months later. Where were they? In the back of the mail carrier's truck, back in the sorting building, at a wrong address, etc.? It's been 12-13 years since we put any outgoing mail in our curbside mail box. This is due to bills arriving late with only 2-days to get the payment in and some payments arriving late and being charged a late fee, despite being sent over two weeks before being due, etc. In my travels, I've learned others have had similar experiences. Strangely, we sent a birthday card to a grandson and it arrived 2-days later, 450-miles away, and during the Christmas rush. So who knows!

We no longer trust USPS. I take all mail to the post office, less than 2-miles away. I even try to get my fired Postal targets off early....but don't always succeed!

Tom

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mhice posted this 07 January 2025

I am pretty sure the match information forum is locked out for anyone to post. Not sure that is why because this thread would be relevant there.

We know that postage has increased and sending targets to be scored is another financial burden. That is why I chose to increase the payouts. From what I am seeing sending out the tech sheets and targets, at least the three top shooters will be evenish, after the receiving the prize, in the long run with the possibility setting of a national record. I am not sure if you all have local matches, but I do. I have to drive an hour one way to shoot, which is around $40 in fuel to get there and back. Then, the match fee is $20.00 for the monthly match. It takes about 100 rounds to compete (making bullets and loading ammo is a labor of love for me, your milage may vary). Simple math makes the postal program look like a good deal because no match requires that much ammo. Honestly, who would not want a national record? Then again, I love competition.

-Michael

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Oquawka posted this 07 January 2025

This year my goal is to send in all my Offhand targets. Last year I had July and August done and while cleaning up the range threw them in the burn barrel!

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Tom Acheson posted this 07 January 2025

For some of us, getting started in the Postal game might not be too obvious.

Go through the list of events and their descriptions ss seen in the thread here under "guide". If you have a gun you want to use, sort through the guide and determine where your gun "fits".

Oftentimes the equipment requirements are similar to the CBA BR match gun requirements. (Some events do not have a companion CBA event.)

If unsure, send an e-mail to Michael Hice for clarification.

Then fill out the order form, also seen in the same thread as the guide. Check off or highlight the Postal(s) that you want to shoot. Send that form and payment to Michael Hice. He will pull the targets together and send them to you. 

When you receive the targets the target return due date will be on the Tech Data Sheet. Every shooter needs to fill that sheet out and include it when you send the target(s) to the scorer. The scorer's name and address is on the Tech Data Sheet. Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't forget the due date! 

Get out and shoot the targets, following the event rules. It's a good idea to print off the guide and take it to the range with you, so you know the rules about how many rounds per target, the distance, the time allowed, etc. A sighter target is included for each event, so becsure to hang it up and use it!

Historically, the BR Rifle Season is probably the most popular. Season means you sign up to shoot the target(s) once a month. The targets are the same each month. You can choose to shoot score, group or both. As the scorer, I see most shooters electing to shoot both score and group. As long as you are out shooting why not both? Not all events involve a 4-month season situation.

To be eligible for a 4-month season aggregate award, you cannot change guns for each month but you can change loads as you make your way through the 4-months. Note that each monthly target has its own due date. You do not save up all 4 targets and send them in together. There will be events where you have to identify the sights that you will use, iron sights or scoped sights. This determines which targets Michael will send to you. 

Hope this helps get you started!

Tom

 

 

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Tom Acheson posted this 07 January 2025

P.S.

Targets do not need to be formally witnessed.

You can cherry pick the weather conditions....an advantage BR match shooters do not have!

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Aaron posted this 07 January 2025

For some of us, getting started in the Postal game might not be too obvious.

He is of course, referring to the dope in NC named Aaron.....  smile

Thanks for the process outline Tom!

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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mhice posted this 08 January 2025

Get out and shoot the targets, following the event rules. It's a good idea to print off the guide and take it to the range with you, so you know the rules about how many rounds per target, the distance, the time allowed, etc. A sighter target is included for each event, so be sure to hang it up and use it!

For any "new" competitor that enters, I include The Postal Match Guide in the package their tech sheets and targets are coming in, so they have the rules in a handy booklet. The competitors that have hung in there through the years do not get them due to increased shipping cost. My apologies to these hardcore guys, and you know who you are!

-Michael

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Boschloper posted this 08 January 2025

To build on what Tom said above, I started shooting the postal matches when I had a young family and not a lot of disposable income.  I shot what I had, a Marlin 336, in the lever/pump/auto match. I would switch between a scope and a peep sight so I could shoot in more matches. I had a great time shooting, and sometimes did ok. The monetary awards are long gone but I still have the certificates (from the ‘90’s) on the wall in the reloading room.

Entering is easy and the shooting is fun.

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Bud Hyett posted this 08 January 2025

I shot what I had, a Marlin 336, in the lever/pump/auto match.  - Don't disparage a Marlin. For several years in the founding of the CBA, Andy Barniskis held the Production Group Record with said rifle. Frank Marshall called Micro-Groove rifling "Micro-Pope" because Pope used shallow groove rifling. Times have marched onward, but the Marlins are very competitive.

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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Tom Acheson posted this 08 January 2025

My experience with a lever gun is really scant. I had a Marlin 336 with a Green Mountain full octagon heavy barrel with a 1:12 twist. Actually shot it in two CBA BR matches. Then I sold it due to not using it. The guy who bought it told me that once he found a good load for it, the accuracy was really good. He shoots it a lot in gong matches.

Kind of funny....you watch old westerns where lever guns are often used, assuming black powder, and the guns are never cleaned.....a seldom reloaded. Same for single action revolvers. Ah, good 'ol Hollywood! Reminds you of Ralphy in the movie A Christmas Story!

Tom

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John Carlson posted this 08 January 2025

My experience with a lever gun is really scant. I had a Marlin 336 with a Green Mountain full octagon heavy barrel with a 1:12 twist. Actually shot it in two CBA BR matches. Then I sold it due to not using it. The guy who bought it told me that once he found a good load for it, the accuracy was really good. He shoots it a lot in gong matches.

Kind of funny....you watch old westerns where lever guns are often used, assuming black powder, and the guns are never cleaned.....a seldom reloaded. Same for single action revolvers. Ah, good 'ol Hollywood! Reminds you of Ralphy in the movie A Christmas Story!

Tom

 

Possibly scripts written by folks with the same level of firearms knowledge as those who show a silenced revolver going pffft.

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

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